Hepatitis C and chemotherapy

[Dreambaby]

I am a new member, and I also have stage 3, grade 3 Hepatitis C. I am undergoing chemotherapy at this time, as all the positive thinking in the world didn't cure it after 25 years of living with it. What I would like some input on is how to deal with the extreme fatigue, insomnia, and other side effects, such as depression vs. rage. I am not new to this type of working with the mind, but find I am having a hard time keeping up, and doing the work on a daily basis because I just feel so lousy. Is anyone else dealing with Hepatitis C and chemo? I feel that at this time, the best thing for me to do is go through the medical regime, and my doctor is 99% sure that I am cured, one of only 25% of do respond. So I guess the positive thinking has done a world of good in the long run.

The main question I have is how to keep up with the daily work and writing, and meditation. Should I just give myself a break until this is over and continue being the couch potato I feel I have become, (a former triathlete), or is there a way to continue to do the work when one is so fatigued?

[Ree]

I had chemo for breast cancer. I'm not sure how similar the treatments are for Hepatitis C, but I found there was a definite cycle to how I felt. Right after a treatment, I felt fine for about a week. Then I had a week to ten days of feeling really lousy and weak. Then I started gradually feeling better and stronger again, until it was time for my next treatment. I had treatments every four weeks.

I just went with however I was feeling on any given day. I tried to plan my life and my activities around the time of the cycle when I was feeling my best. During the really bad days, I didn't expect so much out of myself. I would try to get up early and take my usual morning walk, but if I had to cut it short I didn't beat myself up about it. I used that time to read and journal. Chemo is tough on your body and sometimes it just needs rest.

Those low times were also the times I depended on friends and family for helping out with meals, running errands and just cheering me up with visits and calls. Don't hesitate to reach out to your family and friends. I found that the people close to me really wanted to help, but just didn't know what sort of help I needed. My doctor told me two things that helped me tremendously: (1) Don't suffer. If I was in pain or feeling sick, he wanted to know and he could probably do something for me. (2) Even if this is the only time in your life you ever do so, it's definitely time to take care of yourself!

From your post I can tell you have a positive attitude and I would bet you'll come through these treatments fine. Take care of yourself. The very best to you

[Buddy]

I had Hep A as a child, then chemo for lymphoma in my late 20s. I say take it easy, your body is telling you it needs rest. Chemo is a hard row to hoe.

[escapee]

If there is any interest in nutritional intervention with respect to Hepatitis C virus, feel free to check below .

Selenium ( one of the essential minerals ) - ( Richest food source : Brazilian nuts )

Selenium. Numerous studies have documented low levels of selenium in hepatitis C patients, and when used in conjunction with other antioxidants, it has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in the liver. The level of selenium depletion appears to correspond to disease severity: the more advanced the liver damage, the greater the degree of depletion. One study found that cirrhotic hepatitis C patients had significantly lower levels of selenium, glutathione, and vitamins A, C, and E than noncirrhotic patients and that all hepatitis C patients had lower levels of these antioxidants than age-matched healthy controls (Jain SK et al 2002). Another study examined untreated hepatitis C patients and found that levels of selenium and zinc were significantly reduced and overall antioxidant status was lower in hepatitis C patients than in healthy controls (Ko WS et al 2005).

If Selenium and amino acids can overcome Aids, imagine what it would do to Hepatitis C virus .

"new clinical reports from Zambia, Uganda and South Africa indicate that AIDS may be stopped by nutritional supplementation. A number of members of the medical profession have observed that high doses of the trace element selenium, and of the amino acids cysteine, tryptophan, and glutamine can together rapidly reverse the symptoms of AIDS, as predicted by Dr. Harold D. Foster's nutritional hypothesis."

These nutrients are necessary for the human body to produce the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is strongly antiretroviral (it is an antagonist of reverse transcriptase) and can greatly reduce HIV replication. Unfortunately, HIV has developed the ability to compete with the body for these four nutrients because shortages of them allow its more effective replication. Specifically, HIV has a gene that allows it to produce an analogue of glutathione peroxidase.

Glutathione Peroxidase - Selenium, Aminoacids Overcome AIDS - Health Supreme

China: Will Nano Selenium Help Prevent Avian Pandemic? - Health Supreme

[alan e]

I was diagnosed in the mid 90's-blood test showed enzymes in blood-feeling fatigued -nausious daily sent me to dr.
After the run around from health dept and free clinic -I gave up. I managed to deal with it all for some yrs. Finally picked up insurance through employer and went back to the dr. in 2004- I had a liver biopsy which showed some damage(not sure of the extent) was put on peg.interferon/ribavarin. i felt horrible-had most side effects-loss of hair -headaches-fatigue-etc.
Found out insurance covered only initial dr. visits(biopsy-other bills still unpaid).I couldn't stand the side effects and could not afford blood tests (hep panel tests get expensive)so i just quit.
Now joint pain-mood swings(often)-itching of hands-many other symptoms of a bad liver have me worried with no answers to many questions -like what my life expectancy is.
Seems as if everyone treats my problems as all in my head. Including my wife.
I work with chemicals for furniture refinishing-stripper-lacquer-thinners etc.
Everyone says i need to stay away from these chemicals-it's my job-it's all I know.Can anyone tell me if these chems are making things worse-and any advice on how to get people to realize I am not just complainig for attention.If I say nothing and keep to myself-i get comments like _he's just a grump.
Getting kind of fed up with it all and have been having bad thoughts about life in general and how it all will end.
Any advice would help if anyone is going or has gone through the same things.Not sure where to turn-especially since being denied ss for lack of regular physician and records.I must keep working(it is wearing me out).Sorry for sniveling to everyone.Thanks for any tips or advice you can give.
signed-Down and out here in paradise.

[Cantando]

Originally Posted by Dreambaby

I am a new member, and I also have stage 3, grade 3 Hepatitis C. I am undergoing chemotherapy at this time, as all the positive thinking in the world didn't cure it after 25 years of living with it. What I would like some input on is how to deal with the extreme fatigue, insomnia, and other side effects, such as depression vs. rage. I am not new to this type of working with the mind, but find I am having a hard time keeping up, and doing the work on a daily basis because I just feel so lousy. Is anyone else dealing with Hepatitis C and chemo? I feel that at this time, the best thing for me to do is go through the medical regime, and my doctor is 99% sure that I am cured, one of only 25% of do respond. So I guess the positive thinking has done a world of good in the long run.

The main question I have is how to keep up with the daily work and writing, and meditation. Should I just give myself a break until this is over and continue being the couch potato I feel I have become, (a former triathlete), or is there a way to continue to do the work when one is so fatigued?

Positive thinking and meditation are a waste of time. Try rebelling a little, like - no ma, I'm going out tonight.

[slinsicome]

Hi, Im quite new to this forum after googling HepC and chemotheropy. I read a few of the posts here and was wondering if anyone knew about any new treatments. I'm so 'new', I'm a bit lost, and also posted in the General/Intro about why I joined. I was diagnosed w/HepC & Arthritis in 2002 and started treatments for the Hep C. I went through two years of three different types of treatments. Peg Interferon Alpha 2a & 2b, and Pegisis, with Ribaveron each time. The last treatment I was on, I was taking a shot everyday along w/Procrit shots on the last day of the week for Animia. The doctors told me it didn't work and to stop taking it until something new came along. Well, I was a tad sick of going to all the doctors and I haven't been back to any specialist. I only go to my GP for general checkups on occasion. I've found that consuming a well balanced diet & staying away from sodium as much as possible works well, along with taking Milk Thistle, Omega 3 Fish Oils and 1000mg of Vitamin E daily has helped quite a bit. Yes, I still deal with a great deal of fatigue and try and rest as much as possible, however, I don't sleep well at night for I have insomnia. Stress plays a huge part in my overall health and I 'try' and stay away from as much of it as possible. I do take meds for that, but try not to take too many as I hear they can be addictive. I also take pain meds daily for the Arthritis. That's the first thing I do when I wake up or I'm not sure I could make it through a day as the pain is quite severe..sorry if that's sniviling..it's just the truth. I work for myself as a freelance artist, doing murals & faux finishes, but my jobs the past few years have been far and few between, though I love my work and would work more if my health would permit. I tried to get on SS, but was denied twice (even with the help of a lawyer) but during that time, I was so ill from the treatments, I just gave up trying for disability all together. I'm sure it's needless to say that's one reason I'm interested in any new treatments that may be better than anything I've taken thus far.

[andrew]

Find somebody that practices energy medicine, NET, NLP, EFT, or any other emotional/mental/energy-based therapies. I could go off for days talking about it, but there's incredible evidence to support a lot of these dis-eases stem from more emotional/energetic causes... nothing foofoo newagey, things really close to what eastern medicine has been doing for centuries.

I can attest first hand I've had amazing life changes from dealing with emotions and energy (as in, meridians, acupressure, kinesiology). I practice NLP, and I'm seeing a chiropractor who does NET, and it's seriously changing my life beyond words.

[Ceoarob]

This will change your life

White Powder Gold Home Page

[andrew]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

This will change your life

White Powder Gold Home Page

Intriguing. Any legitimate 3rd party research on it?

[slinsicome]

As per my post, I too work w/chemicals of a sort, since I'm an artist. I wear latex gloves and I would advise you maybe wear a mask as well as gloves. I hear that anything that goes into our bodies goes through the liver. Whether it be swallowed, breathed, or absorbed. As far as letting others know how we feel, well, your guess is as good as mine. I've tried to have my family read up on the subjects of Hep C and I have many Hep C friends that are dealing with the same issues; however, people who don't have the virus just don't understand chronic fatigue syndrom which accompanies the virus. I believe they think if we are up and breathing, we are feeling ok. One of the largest complaints I've read on the subject of Hep C is the fatigue issues and how to make family members/friends etc understand how we feel. Stress is a major role factor and even trying to make a family member understand, can be stressful and the virus breeds on stress along w/toxins..(I suppose stress can be considered a form of toxin itself) Make sure you are in a well ventilated area during your work too. Heck, my bone doctor told me to find another field of work and that was just because of the arthritis and not the HepC. But my art is my livelyhood, but I don't work as much as I used to anyway for health hasn't let me, but I still paint on canvas just the same. Maybe in a since, that is a new career, for before I was climbing ladders doing murals and faux finishes....lol

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by andrew

Intriguing. Any legitimate 3rd party research on it?

There's alot of NicBrams talking about how it worked for her.

But you have to specifically type in either "Ormus" or "MonAtomic Gold" that's the actually scientific name for it.

------

Everyone should try some out.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

There's alot of NicBrams talking about how it worked for her.

Not so sure this is positive testimony about how this stuff works.

[tahliavsk]

The virus can be present in small amounts in other body fluids. you are not likely to be at any risk of catching it. Hepatitis C is a viral infection carried in the blood. So by far the commonest way to catch it is to come into contact with infected blood. Obviously, in every day life, that isn't very likely.

[Tim Brownson]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

There's alot of NicBrams talking about how it worked for her.

But you have to specifically type in either "Ormus" or "MonAtomic Gold" that's the actually scientific name for it.

------

Everyone should try some out.

Any reason why oncologists don't give this it's patients? I would have thought there's a few hundred million sat there for a pharm company that could develop it.

Unless that is, it doesn't work.